Why are women always encouraged to have vaginal births when there are risks including tearing, incontinence and damage to the baby, academic asks?

When it comes to childbirth, vaginal delivery is often assumed to be the best thing – women have, after all, done it for thousands of years. 

But natural birth actually comes with risks, including tearing, haemorrhage and incontinence for the mother and injuries to the baby during labour. 

So why is it that the vast majority of pregnant women are only being warned about the risks of Caesarean sections?

This could now change, as the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist is to discuss the current view of vaginal birth as the default option for childbirth in the UK.

Now they will consider whether there's merit in routinely discussing the relative risks and benefits of vaginal birth and Caesarean section with pregnant women.